DETENTION FUND BUDGET ADJUSTMENT.DOCX

Agenda Item Id: 237274
Item Title
Appropriation Adjustment for Detention Fund
C Number:  C-26-24-015-X-00
Action Requested:
Pursuant to A.R.S. §42-17106(B), approve the following adjustments to the FY 2024 budget.
1.
Decrease the expenditure authority in the Sheriff (D500) Detention Fund (255) Operating (OPER) 
budget by $830,000.
2.
Increase the expenditure authority in the Correctional Health (D260) Detention Fund (255) 
Operating (OPER) budget by $830,000.
The ongoing opioid epidemic has necessitated a critical response from CHS, particularly in treating 
inmates experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) enrolled over 4,000 
patients in the last calendar year. However, as this program was new, it lacked sufficient budgetary 
support for additional staffing and medication costs. Despite receiving ongoing funding through opioid 
settlement funds, the program still exceeds these funds by an estimated $2 million per fiscal year. A 
major contributor to these costs is the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) medications, which cost around 
$2,000 per month per patient but are significantly more effective than traditional oral medications.
Additionally, pursuant to A.R.S. §42-17106(B), approve the following adjustments to the FY 2024 budget.
1.
Increase the expenditure authority in the Correctional Health (D260) Detention Fund (255) 
Operating (OPER) budget by a not-to-exceed amount of $1,000,000.
2.
Decrease the expenditure authority in the Non Departmental (D470) General Fund (100) 
Operating (OPER) in the line “Unreserved Contingency” (4711) budget by a not-to-exceed 
amount of $1,000,000.
3.
Increase the expenditure authority in the Non Departmental (D470) General Fund (100) 
Operating (OPER) in the transfer line “Jail Excise Maintenance of Effort Above Base” by a not-to-
exceed amount of $1,000,000. 
4.
Increase the revenue authority in the Non Departmental (D470) Detention Fund (255) Operating 
(OPER) in the transfer line “Jail Excise Maintenance of Effort Above Base” by a not-to-exceed 
amount of $1,000,000. 
5.
Offsetting revenue and expenditure adjustments in the Eliminations (D980) Eliminations Fund 
(900) Operating (OPER) budget by not-to-exceed amounts of $1,000,000.
Correctional Health Services (CHS) has faced significant budgetary challenges due to substantial 
increases in expenditures for its mandated programs.   In particular, the costs of medical services 
provided by external facilities have surged. Patients whose health needs exceed the capabilities of CHS's 
medical staff or infrastructure are sent to outside facilities to ensure they receive adequate care. CHS

has seen a notable increase in patients requiring rehabilitation facilities, driven by an aging population 
and hospitals' reluctance to keep such patients in their care. These external costs are significantly higher 
than if CHS could care for these patients with its existing resources.  Overall, these costs have increased 
by about $1.7 from fiscal year 2023, or an increase of about 30%.
Another cost driver for CHS is the establishment and growth of the CHS Community Transition Team. 
Over the past decade, CHS has gradually funded this mandate with Detention Fund allocations and 
limited grant funding from Public Health. This team provides essential care to patients as they are 
released from incarceration, identifying high-need or vulnerable patients (e.g., pregnant homeless 
individuals) and linking them with community services. They also facilitate third-party releases when 
courts order a patient to be released to a treatment provider and collaborate with Adult Probation and 
Public Defenders. Additionally, they assist with AHCCCS applications and serve as a point of contact for 
SMI clinics to ensure a post-release plan is in place. This program currently costs about $600,000, with 
CHS covering approximately $400,000.
The ongoing opioid epidemic has necessitated a critical response from CHS, particularly in treating 
inmates experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) enrolled over 4,000 
patients in the last calendar year. However, as this program was new, it lacked sufficient budgetary 
support for additional staffing and medication costs. Despite receiving ongoing funding through opioid 
settlement funds, the program still exceeds these funds by an estimated $2 million per fiscal year. A 
major contributor to these costs is the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) medications, which cost around 
$2,000 per month per patient but are significantly more effective than traditional oral medications.
These actions will have a County-wide net impact of zero, and they do not alter the budget, constraining 
the expenditures of local revenue duly adopted by the Board pursuant to A.R.S. §42-17105.
Additional Information:
Item Notes:
Is there a Financial Impact?
Yes
General Item Information
Department: 
Contact Name: 
Meeting Date: 
Commented [ZN(1]:  I just added this on the latest draft. I 
realized we forgot to include this statement on the original 
draft. Sorry about that!